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Weekly Reflection - Our Mother of Confidence · Weekly Reflection i Isaiah 56:1, 67: Observe what...

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you as you desire.' These words were not uered at random, nor were they flaering words, but great was the power of her faith, and for our learning. He leſt the certain test and demonstraon, however, to the issue of events. Her daughter accordingly was im- mediately healed." [The Gospel of Mahew, Homily 52.3] Jesus praised this woman for her faith and for her love because she made the misery of her child her own. She was willing to suffer rejecon in order to obtain healing for her loved one. She also had indomitable persistence. Her faith grew in contact with the person of Jesus. She began with a request and she ended on her knees in worshipful prayer to the living God. No one who ever sought Jesus with faith – whether Jew or Genle – was refused his help. Do you seek Jesus with expectant faith? www.dailyscripture.net Copyright © 2013-2020 Don Schwager Sources: dailyscripture.net; usccb.org; word-Sunday.org Weekly Reflection i Isaiah 56:1, 6-7: Observe what is right, do what is just. i Psalm 67: 2-3, 5-6, 8 R. O God, let all the nations praise you. i Romans 11: 13-15; 29-32 The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable i Matthew 15: 21-28 “O woman, great is your faith!" FOR AUGUST 16, 2020 The 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time "Great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire " "Lord Jesus, your love and mercy knows no bounds. May I trust you al- ways and pursue you with indomitable persistence as this woman did. Increase my faith in your saving power and deliver me for all evil and harm.." Queson of the Week: How has persistence in prayer worked in your own life ?
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Page 1: Weekly Reflection - Our Mother of Confidence · Weekly Reflection i Isaiah 56:1, 67: Observe what is right, do what is just. i Psalm 67: 2-3, 5-6, 8 R. O God, let all the nations

you as you desire.' These words were not uttered at random, nor were they flattering words, but great was the power of her faith, and for our learning. He left the certain test and demonstration, however, to the issue of events. Her daughter accordingly was im-mediately healed." [The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 52.3] Jesus praised this woman for her faith and for her love because she made the misery of her child her own. She was willing to suffer rejection in order to obtain healing for her loved one. She also had indomitable persistence. Her faith grew in contact with the person of Jesus. She began with a request and she ended on her knees in worshipful prayer to the living God. No one who ever sought Jesus with faith – whether Jew or Gentile – was refused his help. Do you seek Jesus with expectant faith? www.dailyscripture.net Copyright © 2013-2020 Don Schwager

Sources: dailyscripture.net; usccb.org; word-Sunday.org

W e e k l y R e f l e c t i o n

Isaiah 56:1, 6-7: Observe what is right, do what is just.

Psalm 67: 2-3, 5-6, 8

R. O God, let all the nations praise you.

Romans 11: 13-15; 29-32 The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable

Matthew 15: 21-28

“O woman, great is your faith!"

F O R A U G U S T 1 6 , 2 0 2 0

The 2 0 th Sunday o f Ord inary T ime

"Great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire "

"Lord Jesus, your love and mercy knows no bounds. May I trust you al-ways and pursue you with indomitable persistence as this woman did. Increase my faith in your saving power and deliver me for all evil and harm.."

Question of the Week: How has persistence in prayer worked in your own life ?

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Page 2

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called

out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”

Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

Do you ever feel "put-off" or ignored by the Lord? This passage describes the only occasion in which Jesus ministered outside of Jewish territory. (Tyre and Sidon were fifty miles north of Israel and still exist today in mod-ern Lebanon.) A Gentile woman, a foreigner who was not a member of the Jewish people, puts Jesus on the spot by pleading for his help. She ad-dressed Jesus as Lord and Son of David. She recognized that Jesus was God's anointed one who would bring healing and salvation, not only to the people of Israel, but to the Gentiles as well. She asks Jesus to show mercy and compassion to her tormented daughter. At first Jesus seemed to pay no attention to her, and this made his disciples feel embarrassed. Jesus does this to test the woman to awaken faith in her.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 15: 21-28

Gospel Meditation

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When she persisted in asking Jesus to heal her daughter, Jesus an-swered by saying one shouldn't take food prepared for their children and throw it to the dogs. What did Jesus mean by this expression? The Jews often spoke of the Gentiles as "unclean dogs" since they wor-shipped idols, offered sacrifices to demons, and rejected the true God. For the Greeks the "dog" was a symbol of dishonor and was used to describe a shameless and audacious woman. Matthew 7:6 records the expression: do not give dogs what is holy. Jesus was sent from the Fa-ther in heaven to first feed the children of Israel with the true bread of life that would bring healing, reconciliation, and lasting union with God. This humble Canaanite woman was not put-off by Jesus' refusal to give her what she asked for. In desperation and hope for her tor-mented child, she pleads with Jesus to give some of the "crumbs that fall from the table" to the "little dogs". John Chrysostom, in his sermon on this passage, remarks how this woman approached Jesus with great humility, wisdom, and faith: "See her humility as well as her faith! For he had called the Jews 'children,' but she was not satisfied with this. She even called them 'masters,' so far was she from grieving at the praises of others. She said, 'Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.' Behold the woman's wisdom! She did not venture so much as to say a word against anyone else. She was not stung to see others praised, nor was she indignant to be reproached. Behold her constancy. When he answered, 'It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs,' she said, 'Yes, Lord.' He called them 'children,' but she called them 'masters.' He used the name of a dog, but she described the action of a dog. Do you see the woman's humili-ty? ...Do you see how this woman, too, contributed not a little to the healing of her daughter? For note that Christ did not say, 'Let your little daughter be made whole,' but 'Great is your faith, be it done for

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Reflection for the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time For Reading 1:

Q: Why do people classify themselves at "conservative" or "liberal?" How do these labels apply to the spiritual life?

Q: How have you grown your spiritual "ears?" How have you

integrated your prayer and moral life? For Responsorial Psalm

Q: How do you see God blessing the world? Take time this week to pray for God’s blessing for the world. Praying a rosary for world peace is not a bad idea.

For Reading 2:

Q: Has scandal ever changed your mind about a political or social issue? Why did it change your mind?

Q: What has scandalized you lately? Present these scandals before the Lord. Allow him to sort out the important from the unimportant. Pray for great vision so you can understand and act appropriately

For Gospel:

Q: Are you at ease in today's multi-cultural climate? Or, do you find your dealings with people of other cultures difficult? (Be honest!)

Reflection for the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time For Reading 1:

Q: Why do people classify themselves at "conservative" or "liberal?" How do these labels apply to the spiritual life?

Q: How have you grown your spiritual "ears?" How have you

integrated your prayer and moral life? For Responsorial Psalm

Q: How do you see God blessing the world? Take time this week to pray for God’s blessing for the world. Praying a rosary for world peace is not a bad idea.

For Reading 2:

Q: Has scandal ever changed your mind about a political or social issue? Why did it change your mind?

Q: What has scandalized you lately? Present these scandals before the Lord. Allow him to sort out the important from the unimportant. Pray for great vision so you can understand and act appropriately

For Gospel:

Q: Are you at ease in today's multi-cultural climate? Or, do you find your dealings with people of other cultures difficult? (Be honest!)


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